Lumber carrier



Dec. 23, 1.930.'

F. G. GREAvEs ET AL 1,786,060

Y LUMBER CARRIER Filed Aug. 29, 1927 5 sheets-sheet 2 l NVEN DERI(K @EBN ATTORN EY Dec. 23, 1330.. F. G. GREA-VESET Al. 1,786,060

LUMBER CARRIER Filed Aug.' 29, 1927 5 sheets-sheet 3 l NVEN TO R 'EpEn/nr 6' 63m vas Dec. 23, 1930. F. @..GREAVES ET AL 1,786,060-

LUMBER CARRIER 5 sheets-sheet 4 Fleld Aug. 29. 1927 FEEDER/c JEH/v R Wn TT Dec. 23, 1930.

F. G. GREAVES ET AL LUMBER CARRIER Filed Aug. 29 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED isT.I.S.i-.F..-s

PATENT orificeA LUMBER CARRIER Application filed August 29, 1927. Serial No. 216,244.V

This invention relates to improvements'in "lumber carri ers, and more particularly .to carriers of that type, .or character, especially designed for use about'sawmills and lumber yards for the .transferring and stacking of packs of lumber; l"the present invention being in the nature of an improvement'over the carrier and crane illustra-ted .and described in our co-pending application, Serial Number 131,070, filed August 23, 1926.

It is the `principal object ofthe presentinvention to provide a `combined lumber `car'- `rier and crane that may be voperated with a greater degree of satisfaction than that disclosed in the former application, especially when operated over uneven ground, sand which embodies both 4front vand rear wheel steering facilities whereby lateral travel and abrupt turning is =made possible.

More specifically stated, the invention yresides in the provision of :a lumbercarrierfof that type having its frame `structure adapted to straddle a pile of lumber and equipped with supports for carrying fthe lumber pile. Also, having paired front steering wheels land paired vrear driving wheels; the 'latter being adapted to be adjusted from parallel relation with. the fore vand aft line of 'the Vcarrier `to positions at right `angles thereto .so as yto 30 permit the carrier .to be swung about either front wheel asv a pivot in making a turn.

Another' object of the invention is to provide yieldably mounted levers through which the forward part of the carrier frame is supported from the front wheels so as to permit independent vertical movement `of 'these wheels relativeto each other and tothe frame so as to avoid the transmitt-ance ofany Auneven pressure to the frame incidental to operation over uneven surfaces.

A still further object of the inventionis to provide the carrier with a jib crane for facilitating'the handling or stacking of lumber and which may be readily disconnected therefrom when not required or desired.

Still another object of the invention vis to provide an improvedA and novel driving andv steering mechanism for the rear wheels.

C u e l. c e Other objects of the invention reside 1n the various details of construction andcom- `bination of Vparts asis hereinafter described.

, In accomplishing the various objects 'of the invention, we have ,provided ,the rim proved details .of construction, 'the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accom- .55` panying drawings,'wherein- Figure 1 is a side' elevation of a .lumber carrier and crane embodied by the present invention.. v

Figure Qis an enlarged, sectional detail of the spring support interposedat each side of the carrier frame'between the forward ipertion of kthe carrier and `the front `wheel mounting levers. l

Figure 3 is a plan view of the carrierywlith thecraneV structure removed.

Figurevl is an enlarged side elevation fof 'the rear portion of the carrier.

Figure is a-rear-end-viewof the :carrier and crane.

.70, 'Figure 6 is an enlarged, rear lendfvieav of the carrier, showing `the 4.rear wheels as Viturned transversely to the fore and aft .flne

of the frame.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the-arrangement ofthe gearing for driving and steering one of the rear wheels.

Fig. 8 is a detail V4perspective view :ofipasrts of .the .steering gear for :the front Aand rear wheels.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the {transmission mechanism for controlling :the raising-or lowering of the carrying members.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the same.

VReferring more indetailtojthe drawings- .85

The frame structure of the carrier comprises the main bed, or body, portion rwhich is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 1. This comprises a horizontal platform '2 `on which the operator stands and whereon theenginesand transmission mechanism for the carrier are mounted. It also includes the oppositeside frames 3-3 .upon which paired standards Ll-ll `for mounting 95 the crane, or jib, 5. are securelyiXed. Along the under edges of the'side frames 33, ,parallel and forwardly directed opposite side frames 6-6 are rigidly secured Athese frames extend along vopposite sides ofv the loads 100 handled and serve, as presently described, as the load supporting means.

The whole frame structure and crane is supported for travel by means of paired front wheels 7 7 and paired rear wheels 8 8; the front wheels being mounted by means of yokes 9, which, in turn, are pivotally mounted by vertical Aailes 9 in bearings 10 provided therefor at the forward ends of a pair of frame supporting levers 11 that overlie the forwardly directed frames 8 6 parallel with the fore and aft line of the carrier. At their rearward ends, these levers 11 are pivotally fined by pivot pins 12 to the forward lower corners of the side frames 3 3.

The forward ends of the frames 6 6 are suspended from the levers 11 through the intermediacy of yieldable connections which not only provide the required supports but which also permit of a required flexibility of movementin the frame structure that facilitates operation over uneven surfaces. As is best shown in Figure 2, a vertical connecting pin 14 joins each arm 11 with its corresponding frame member G. These pins have their opposite end portions slidably contained, respectively, within vertically alined bores 15 and 1G in the levers and frames and they are provided, at their opposite ends, with collars 17. The bore 15 of each of the levers 1l is provided with an annular shoulder 18 at its lower end and a coiled compression spring 19 is interposed about the pin to bear at its ends against the collar at the upper end of the pin and against the shoulder 18. Likewise, the bore 16 of the frame has an annular shoulder 20 at its upper end and a coiled compression spring 21 is interposed between this shoulder and the collar at the lower end of the pin. These springs are sufficiently strong to support the frame and loads carried thereby and they permit independent freedom of action up or down of either wheel in travel over uneven surfaces, and, in this way, they relieve the frame structure of any undesirable strain. Preferably, the springs 19 are of greater compression strength than the springs 21, so as to give a greater load carrying range without compression of both springs simultaneously, and collars 22 are fixed on the pins 14 between the levers and frames 6 so as to limit movement of the pins inwardly with respect to either socket 15 and 16.

The front wheels 7 7 are steered by mechanism comprising a hand wheel 25 that is fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 2G mounted in the frame structure 1 in position for easy access by the operator. At its lower end, the shaft 26 has a pinion gear 27 fixed thereto, see Figure 8. for meshing with a slidably mounted rack 28 extending transversely with respect to the frame and which has its opposite ends connected, respectively, by links 29 29 with levers 30 30 that are fixed to the upper ends of vertically and rotatably mounted shafts 31-31. These shafts are supported in bearings fixed to the opposite side frames 3 and they have lever arms 32-32 fixed to their lower ends in such manner as to extend outwardly from the sides of the frames and these are connected, by links 38 8', with steering arms 34---34 formed on the front wheel mounting yokes. rThe conneetions are such that by rotation of the steering wheel in opposite directions the rack is adjusted accordingly and through the link and lever mechanism the wheels will be adjusted for the purpose of steering the carrier. The rear end portion of the frame structure is supported by paired driving wheels 8 8 hat are located at opposite sides of the frame. Each Vof these wheels is revolubly mounted mounted between the depending legs of a casting 35 which has laterally extending and vertically alined bosses 36 and 87 which overlap correspondingly arranged bosses 38 and 39 on a bracket 40 that is secured to the main frame. Vertical shafts 41 extend through the overlapped bosses of the brackets and castings to pivotally mount the latter and to provide for steering as presently described.

For normal travel of the carrier the rear wheels are not used for steering purposes and they are held in parallel alinement with each other and `with respect to the longitudinal line of the carrier by means of their steering mechanism. This mechanism comprises a steering wheel 45 that is mounted closely beneath the steering wheel for the front wheels on the upper end a tubular shaft 46 which incloses the steering wheel shaft 26 previously described, and which, at its lower end which terminates just above the platform 2, has a spiral gear 48 thereon meshing with a spiral gear 49 on a horizontal shaft 50 mounted in bearings 51 51 and eX- tending toward the rear of the frame. On this latter shaft are sprocket wheels which are alined, respectively, with sprocket wheels 54- 55 keyed on shafts 5(3 57 rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the frame, parallel with shaft 50. Driving connection between the sprockets and sprockets 54- 55 is provided through the intermediacy of sprocket vchain belts 62 G3. rlhe shafts 56 and 57 are equipped, respectively, with worm gears 58 59 in mesh with gears GO 61 that are fixed to the upper ends of the vertical shafts 41 whereby the wheel supporting castings are pivo' ly connected to their supports at opposite safes of the frame, By means of this steering mechanism, the shafts 41 may be rotated in either direction and. since they are keyed or otherwise fixed at their lower ends to the castings, the latter will be turned thereby to adjust the rear wheels to positions for lateral swinging of the end of the carrier or for forward or rearward travel. The steering gear also serves to retain the parallel relation of the wheels at all times. Y

For the purpose of driving the rear-v'hcc"s we `have provided a suitable eneine, d D nated at 64, vwhich is mounted on the platform of the main frame at one side and which has a chain drive connection with its shaft 65, as at 66, through a suitable change speed and reverse transmissionmechanism, designated at 67, with a rearwardly directed drive shaft 68. rlhis latter shaft, by means of a gear 69 at its rearward end meshing wi h lthe master gear 70 of a di'erential mechanism designated at 71, drives the differential shafts if' 2 7 3 which extend to opposite sides of the frame where they are ccntained vfithin bearings M At their outer ends, these differential shafts are equipped, respectively, with spiral gears 77 .7*. which mesh with gears 7% 76 that are fixed on the upper ends of shafts 79-T9 contained vertically in bearings in the opposite side frames 3 3. These shafts r'9--79 are equipped, respectively, with gears 80- 60 at if .ver ends which mesh with gears S31- 61' at the upper ends of vertical shafts 552-82 carried in the castings 35 and which, at their lower ends, have 1beveled gear pinicns 63-63 thereon meshing with ring gears fixed concentrically on the wheels 8 8. this arrangement the shaft-s 7.9 79 are mounted in coaxial alinement with the pivot shafts 41 4C1 which support the castings and this provides for adjusting the castings in steering the wheels without interference with the driving connection between gears 80 and 81, and also that the drivingconne-ction will, in no way, interfere with the steering mechanism since the relation of the parts is not changed by the steering action.

By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the manner of mounting the casting 35 at one side of the carrier is just the reverse of that at the other side, that is, at one side the pivot shaft 11 is directly ahead of the drive shaft 32, while at the other side it is directly back of it.

It is also noted that the driving wheels are so placed as to pivot about the vertical axes 41 and that the relation ofthe pivotal .cene ter line to the fore and aft center line of the wheels is such te produce a result in which the drive wheels are directly opposite each other with reference to either of the extreme positions, one of which is the direct forward or the reverse of it, while the other is at right angles to it, thus admitting of a translation directly across the path of the first movement. Also, these drive wheels are so positioned as to gearing thrusts that they are at all times in a state of balance no matter underwhat conditions of work or at what positions they may be used. rlhis steering arrangement also allows the machine to be steered either independently of or in conjunction with the forward wheel steering mechanism. l i

In using the carrier fer carrying a pack or stack of lumber, the carrier frame is run over the stack so as to straddle it, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. To permit this, the platform 2 of the main frame is made quite high and the side frames 3 3 and extension frames 6 6 are spaced apart in parallel relation so as to leave the intermediate space entirely clear. Stacks of lumber, as designated at 89, to be transferred by the carrier are staclred on cross bars which are notched at their ends, as at 91, for the entrance of the supporting flanges of the carrying means `provided connectihn with the side frames 6. This carrying means consists of the paraliel and horizontally disposed angle iron beams 9:2 92 which are supported -attheir ends by siides 93 which operate vertically in ide s"cts 93 in the frames 6. Each slide is provided with a boss or nut 94C through which r The several screws are Yine are operatively connected so as to rc-tate together and in the same direction by means ef sprocket chain belts 96 operating about .sprecl-:ets 9?' 97 on the screws. The

wardly te the level of the platform 2 and are there equipped with sprocket wheels 98 98 vand a sprocket chain belt 99 extends about these sc that both setsrof screws may be rotated. in unison. For mechanically actuating the screws, we have provided a transmission mechanism, which may be of any desirable character whereby driving of the screws in either direction may be effected. This is not illustrated in detail but is generally indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 at 100. rlhe mechanism com-V prises a shaft 101 driven by a chain belt 102 fromthe shaft 103 of the main drive transmission mechanism 67, and a shaft 104 provided with a worm 105 operating in mesh with a gear 106 on the extended upper endof the adjacent screw 95. A shift lever 107 is provided for the mechanism whereby the direction of rotation of the screws may be controlled for either raising or lowering theload carrying flanges 92.

rihe load carrying beams 92f 92 have their horizontal flanges turned inwardly to serve as the load supporting means and these flanges engage beneath the notched or shouldered endsv of the cross bars on which the loads are stacked. u

The boom, or jib, 5 of the crane construction is mounted near its rearward end on a cross pin 110 extended between the upper ends ef the standards L1- and at its rearward is connected by two tie rods 111 with the rear edge of the main frame 1. The boom extends horizontally in the central fore and aft line of the machine and is equipped for the at each side are extended up-` movement of a carriage 112 along it for the raising and lowering of the loads to facilitate stacking. This crane also permits the transferring of two loads simultaneously by supporting one from the crane while one is carried in the usual manner.

n Figure 1, we have shown the hoisting cable 115 and also a racking cable 116 and these are extended over suitable guide pulleys as at 117 and te any suitable winding` mechanism, not shown, which may be operated by connection with the engine, or otherwise.

It is to be understood that the crane is not essential to the use of the carrier for ordinary work and may be easily and quicklyv det-ached by running it upon a rack and then removing the cross pin 110 and the rods 111. Itis Very useful, however, in stacking, loading or transferring piles of lumber and makes possible the carrying of two loads instead of one where the surface over which the carrier operates is not too uneven for safety.

lt may be mentioned also that the crane has many other uses outside of the handling of lumber and when used for handling heavy loads, a counter balancing` load mag,v be held in the carrier itself.'

The important features of the present carrier which makes it more practical and more desirable for use than machines heretofore used reside in the novel construction of the levers 11 and in their radial action which permits independent action of the front wheels whereby strain, or twist, on the frame and load incident to travel over uneven surfaces is avoided. Also, in the provision of the springs of unequal strength for supporting the frame from the levers 11 for giving greater flexibility and greater range of loading without collapsing with springs simultaneously.

Another feature resides in the construction that provides for the load carrying flanges remaining in parallel relation regardless of f the unevenness of surfaces over which the car ier wheels travel so that the load is not disturbed.

@ther features accomplished reside in the manner of gearing, steering and driving the rear wheels so that they remain at all times in a state of balance and permit atranslation ef movement of that end ofthe carrier directly across the longitudinal line of the carrier in turning.

Having thus described our invention, what we Claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a lumber carrier of the character described, opposite side frames, a pair of vertical screws rotatably mounted in each side frame, and a pair of angle bars for engaging beneath the opposite side edges of a load, each of said bars having lugs thereon through which the screws extend, means for rotating all of the said screws in unison to raise or to lower the angle bars.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 27th day of June, 1927.

FREDERICK G. GREAVES. SERN P. VAT T. 

